Gemotions

The bright colors of the card made his teeth ache. He crumpled it in his fist, the paper crinkling under the pressure. The message, as banal as it was, felt like a deliberate act of cruelty. He felt a tremor run through his limbs.

He threw the card across the room, where it landed near the untouched chess board, pieces perfectly arrayed. He paced the worn wooden floor, his footsteps heavy and uneven.

He reached for the bottle of whiskey, pouring a generous measure into a glass. The amber liquid shimmered in the dim light. He gulped it down, the burning sensation a small comfort.